POS0957 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF NEUROSARCOIDOSIS DISEASE IN NORTHERN SPAIN 1999-2019: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY
Authors: A. Herrero-Morant, L. Sanchez-Bilbao, I. Gonzalez-Mazon, D. Martínez-López, C. Álvarez-Reguera, J. L. Martín-Varillas, R. Fernández-Ramón, R. Blanco
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Neurosarcoidosis (NS) is a serious and relative uncommon complication of sarcoidosis [<b>1].</b> Data on incidence is scarce and varies worldwide. <h3>Objectives</h3> To estimate NS epidemiology in Northern Spain. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis at a University hospital in Northern Spain, between January 1999 and December 2019 were assessed. Sarcoidosis diagnosis was established according to ATS/ERS/WASOG criteria as follows: compatible clinical and radiological presentation, histopathologic confirmation, and exclusion of other granulomatous diseases. NS was diagnosed according to the NS Consortium Consensus Group [<b>2].</b> Demographic and clinical data were collected. The incidence of sarcoidosis between 1999-2019 was estimated by gender, age, and year of diagnosis. <h3>Results</h3> NS was observed in 30 of 234 (12.8%) (19 women/ 11 men) (mean age: 55.0±15.8 years) patients with sarcoidosis. The underlying neurological manifestations were chronic headache (n=13, 43.4%), peripheral neuropathy (n=6, 20.0%), cranial neuropathy (n=5, 16.7%), spinal cord abnormalities (n=3, 10.0%) and aseptic meningitis (n=3, 10.0%). A comparison between different geographical areas is summarized in <b>Table 1</b>. There are wide variations in frequency (US:4.8% to France:33.9%), gender predominance and age at diagnosis (31 to 55 years) depending on the geographical area. Nevertheless, most of the patients were diagnosed in the 5<sup>th</sup> decade of life. Annual incidence of NS in our population area in the 1999-2019 period was 0.11 per 100,000 people, 95% (CI:0.11-0.26); 0.08 (0.07-0.24) in men, 0.13 (0.09-0.24) in women. There were variations in annual incidences, ranging from a minimum value of 0.08 in 2013-2014 to a maximum of 0.19/100,000 people in 1999-2000. A downward trend in annual incidence over time was observed. Nevertheless, the correlation was weak (r<sup>2</sup>=0.1135) (<b>Figure 1</b>). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The epidemiological characteristics of NS is very different in frequency. Frequency estimated in this study was similar to that of other countries. <h3>References</h3> [<b>1</b>] Riancho-Zarrabeitia L, et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2014; 32:275-84. PMID:24321604. [<b>2</b>] Stern BJ, et al. JAMA Neurol. 2018;75:1546-1553. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> Alba Herrero-Morant: None declared, Lara Sanchez-Bilbao: None declared, Iñigo Gonzalez-Mazon: None declared, David Martínez-López: None declared, Carmen Álvarez-Reguera: None declared, José Luis Martín-Varillas Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer, Lilly, Janssen, UCB, and Celgene, Raúl Fernández-Ramón: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, Bristol-Myers, Janssen, Galapagos and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD, Novartis and Roche.